How To Make A Chenille Blanket Tutorial

I have made so many of these and I have had numerous requests about how to make one so Merry Christmas!

What you need:

1 yd  cotton for the backing of the blanket (sometimes I get just a little over a yard, so I have room to square it up after I line up the flannel and sew it)

Four 1 yard cuts of flannel (you can use different colors or all the same) 

A roll of masking or painters tape (you will only be using a few feet)

I have found that my favorite color combination is using 2 colors of flannel.  The Chenille is two of the same with a different one in the middle.  The middle color is also the one closest to the focus (bck) fabric.

For example layer like this:

Focus (back) cotton fabric, face down, 
(^spray baste) then flannel A, 
(NO SPRAY BASTE HERE) flannel B, 
(^spray baste) flannel A 
(^spray baste) flannel B.

Another way to say this:

1st layer is cotton face down

2nd layer is 1st flannel

NO SPRAY BASTE BETWEEN THESE 2 LAYERS

3rd layer is 2nd flannel

4th layer is 3rd flannel

5th layer is the final 4th flannel.

            Make sure your flannel is colored all the way through, Cozy solids from JAF are great for this!

½ yd cotton fabric for the binding

Press all fabric before starting but do NOT pre-wash!!  I can't stress this enough.  
DO NOT PRE-WASH YOUR FABRICS

***I'm going to edit this right here**
I no longer baste the layers with needle and thread.
I use spray baste.
Lay the focus fabric face down on a flat surface and spray with basting spray.
Lay the first flannel on top and smooth into place.
It is helpful to have someone assist you with this.
When you put the next flannel DO NOT USE THE SPRAY BASTE ON THIS LAYER.
WHY? Because this is the layer you will need to cut to.
Now you will spray baste and add the third piece of flannel.
Smooth into place.
Spray baste after placing the third flannel piece into place.
Add the fourth and last flannel layer and smooth into place.

If you want to baste with needle and thread follow the directions in the next paragraph.

Lay the backing fabric on a large surface face down.  
Layer the flannel on top of the backing, right side up.  
Smooth each layer before adding the next.  
Once all 5 layers are smooth place a long piece of tape diagonally across the quilt. 
 Using a basting needle and thread baste the layers together. 
 Baste using a big and then a little stitch and stitch about 3 inches from your last line of basting following the tape line. 
(In this picture the blanket is upside down, it's best to put your cotton on the bottom and 
layer up the flannel.  
I don't have another photo to put here but trust me put your cotton on the bottom and 
then the flannels.  
You want to be sewing with the cotton closest to the feed dogs)

 

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Now for the fun.  
Using your walking foot with the stitch guide attached, stitch along one side of your tape line, then you can remove the tape.   
Using your stitch guide to help you continue stitching, on the diagonal 5/8 of an inch from your previously stitched line until the entire quilt has been stitched.

It should look like this when all the lines are stitched.

Using chenille cutting scissors (or a chenille cutter), cut through the top 3 layers.
 DO NOT CUT INTO THE 4TH LAVER OF FLANNEL!!
 Once all your lines are cut you will need to square up your quilt.
 Do NOT square it up until you are done cutting your channels!!
 (ask me how I know this, LOL)

Here is how it looks when you are done before you square it up.

To square up the blanket I fold it in half and use the fold line as my straight line guide.
 I then trim off each side.
 I then fold it in the other direction and do the same thing.
 Once that is done, I fold to make sure all the corners line up with each other
and that it really is "square".

Now you need to make your binding. I make it using a cotton fabric (not a flannel). I cut 2.5" strips, join strips to make one long strip,fold in half and press.
 Attach to the flannel side of the quilt using your sewing machine.
 I turn and hand stitch to the back (the cotton side), or machine stitch the binding in place.
 I have begun to put labels in my quilts by putting it into the binding or I use a stamp I had made.

Now is where the fun begins! Wash and dry your blanket to make it "fluff" and ENJOY!!

Your finished blanket should look like these:

If you have questions I would love to help you, BUT you need to leave your email address.

You may email me directly if that's easier too.

My email is mamaspark@gmail.com

If you happen to make one I would love to see it.
 Please upload it to my Flickr group!  I would love to see your creations.
 I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial! ~XOP~